ESTHER:
The road to Esther takes you through a cypress swamp area known as Big
Woods. While the drive that brings you to Esther these days is a
pleasant trip down a winding scenic road, the trip was not always such
an easy one. During the 1800's traveling to Esther involved a
round-about journey which included crossing the Vermilion River via
Campbell's Ferryboat.

INTRACOASTAL CITY:
The community of Intracoastal City, located on the banks of the
Intracoastal Waterway, evolved through years of service to the area's
oil and fishing industries. Here you'll find helicopter bases
and docking facilities for these industries. Drive south to the
end of the road and you'll discover the Leland Bowman Lock on the
Intracoastal Waterway. Should you choose to visit the Lock, we
recommend that you pack a picnic lunch to enjoy under the shelter of the
Lock's gazebo. And, if you bring you binoculars along, you can
also use the gazebo as an observation point for bird and wildlife
watching as the Lock is surrounded by a marsh teeming with local flora
and fauna. Tourist information at Leland Bowman Lock.

PERRY:Perry is a community of firsts. The first parish seat was
located here until the year 1854 when Abbeville became the permanent Vermilion Parish Seat. The first bridge to span the
Vermilion River was built here during the 1820's by Mr. Robert
Perry. The present bridge crossing the Vermilion River in Perry is
an aerial lift type span common to Vermilion Parish.

PECAN ISLAND:As you travel to Pecan Island you will pass through marshland
inhabited by wildlife such as alligators, deer, nutria, and native
birds. Don't hesitate to stop at the roadside turnarounds for a
little fishing or crabbing or just plain "looking" at the
beauty of the open marsh and its elusive inhabitants. Located 1/2
mile off of Highway 82 is the Acadiana Marina. Here you'll find
Our Lady of the Sea Chapel where artifacts from the old Cheniere Au
Tigre Catholic Church are housed. While you're in the area,
perhaps you'd like to visit Freshwater City, home to oil industry
docks, the Freshwater Bayou Lock, and the Gulf of Mexico.

BANCKER:Bancker was once a thriving community nestled between four large
plantations. The Catholic Church which once served the community
is now located in Henry. However, the church cemetery, which dates
to 1897, and the Grotto, a replica of the original grotto at Lourdes, has recently been refurbished are open to
the public.